DALLAS – Mavericks coach Don Nelson said last night he plans to talk to Yankees manager Joe Torre today to seek advice on whether to undergo surgery for his prostate cancer.

Nelson, the former Knick coach who faced them last night at Dallas’ Reunion Arena, learned he had an early form of prostate cancer Tuesday and is leaning toward the same kind of surgery Torre had before the 1999 season.

Torre had surgery in March and missed two-and-a-half months, including the rest of spring training. Torre returned in May.

“I’m going to speak to [Torre] hopefully today or tomorrow to talk to him about his situation,” Nelson said before last night’s 94-85 win over the Knicks. “It’s probably going to be similar to mine.”

Although he has not officially decided on surgery until he consults with Torre and gets a second opinion from another doctor, Nelson said he wants to start his treatment “as soon as we possibly can.” But last night’s game vs. the Knicks likely was not his last before he takes a hiatus. Assistant Del Harris is expected to take over for Nelson.

“The sooner I do it, the sooner I’ll be back,” the 60-year-old Nelson said. “I really want to be back for the playoffs.”

Indeed, the Mavericks (12-8) are heading in that direction as Nelson has resuscitated a dying franchise. Last night’s victory tied Nelson with Red Auerbach for fourth on the all-time coaching list with 928 wins.

“I don’t have [to have surgery] tomorrow or next week,” said Nelson, who says his cancer hasn’t spread. “I could go a few weeks and not worry about it.”

Jeff Van Gundy and Nelson had very different philosophies on how to make the Knicks win, but Van Gundy tried to be a loyal assistant. Nelson, whose 59-game Knicks’ reign was an unmitigated disaster, did not and would not make Patrick Ewing the focal point during the 1995-96 season. He was fired in March, 1996 despite a 34-25 record. Nelson’s axing paved the way for the Van Gundy era.

“Cancer is not stunning anymore, but when it hits someone close to you it is,” said Van Gundy, who called Nelson yesterday afternoon before the game. “I’m not trying to portray that myself and he are very close because we only spent a few months together. But I have a great deal of respect for him. “He’s very, very good evaluating perimeter players. You see it here.”

Four Knicks played under Nelson – Erick Strickland, Kurt Thomas, Latrell Sprewell and Charlie Ward – the last Knick still around from the Nelson era.